Chapter 1295 — Brazen and Black-Hearted

His robes flapped and streamed behind him; the crown upon his head burst apart with a crack, and the gale pulled his long hair straight back!

"This subject will not sit and wait for death!"

Roaring again and again, the Yin Son of Heaven had four heavenly palaces come bursting forth behind him, while four more heavenly palaces surfaced from within the Nether Capital Heaven Gate — the marvel of eight heavenly palaces at once!

The Yin Son of Heaven's aura surged violently. Meeting Celestial Venerable Hao's palm, he cried fiercely: "Celestial Venerable Hao, you are gravely wounded — and you think you can take me? Beat you down, and this Yin will be the Celestial Venerable Yin!"

Shen Mu narrowed his eyes, raised his cup and drank, and sent his consciousness to speak to the egg of Taishi at the center of his brow: "Taisu has made her move, hasn't she?"

The Taishi within the egg said: "Indeed. Celestial Venerable Hao does not yet possess such power; he has restored at most nine heavenly palaces. Yet that palm of his carried the strength of eighteen. Taisu is certainly aiding him in secret."

As Celestial Venerable Hao's palm fell, a world-shaking roar rolled out; the entire front hall of the great palace was torn away, and a giant handprint thousands of li long sent the Yin Son of Heaven flying, Nether Capital Heaven Gate and all!

At the great feast in the hall, every god general and celestial venerable was seized with dread.

Celestial Venerable Hao drew back his hand and said in a sickly voice: "My injuries are still too grave. I could not beat the wretch to death."

The hall fell silent.

Shen Mu bit down on his chopsticks, clapped his hands in delight, and said in a muffled, nasal voice: "Well struck! Were I not gravely wounded myself, I would surely give that fellow the Yin Son of Heaven a sound thrashing too!"

Celestial Venerable Hao glanced at him again, forcing down the anger of being upstaged, and raised his cup: "He is not worth your anger. My lords, I drink to you all."

The two celestial venerables, the three emperors, the four heavenly masters, the four heavenly kings, and all the generals protested that they did not deserve it, and drained their cups.

Celestial Venerable Hao set down his cup, when a long rainbow came flying in from outside: the Yin Son of Heaven, drenched in blood, dropped to his knees with a thud, and kowtowing and crawling by turns, dragged a trail of blood up to the feast in the hall and choked out: "Zhaojin knows his fault! I beg the Celestial Venerable to forgive me!"

Celestial Venerable Hao gave a cold snort.

Celestial Venerable Huo took up a cup and stepped forward, pressed it into the Yin Son of Heaven's hand, and said gently: "Netherworld Emperor, go offer Brother Hao a cup in apology. Brother Hao, Brother Yin has heavy duties on his shoulders; do not hold it against him."

Celestial Venerable Hao's face eased a little.

The Yin Son of Heaven came forward on his knees, cup raised. Celestial Venerable Hao's expression softened; he took up his cup and said: "Enough. I know where your duty lay; not saving me was the right course, and I no longer blame you. Rise." With that, he drained his cup.

The Yin Son of Heaven burst into loud sobs, bowing low upon the ground, unwilling to rise.

Celestial Venerable Hao could not help but be moved himself; he struggled to his feet, came forward and helped him up, tears falling as he said: "You are my brother in life and death. The reason I was angry with you is that our friendship stands as it does, and yet you watched me die and did not save me. But I have thought it through now — I should not have struck you..."

The Yin Son of Heaven choked out: "What I said just now was spoken in anger; let the Celestial Venerable not take it to heart."

The two helped each other along, and each took his seat.

The gods present wiped their tears one after another.

"Excellent!"

But Shen Mu burst out laughing. He rose to his feet and clapped in praise: "You two move heaven and earth and make ghosts and gods weep! When word of this spreads, it will be a fine tale of our Celestial Court!"

Celestial Venerable Hao and the Yin Son of Heaven both darkened, forcing down the urge to finish him off on the spot.

"Why is that wretch Celestial Venerable Mu still not dead?"